Police: City resident victimized by scam

According to Amsterdam police, police received a report on Dec. 20 from a resident saying that they had fallen victim to a fraudulent Western Union scam.

Police reports say that the resident received a letter from a company claiming that the resident had won $80,000.

The letter instructed the resident to deposit a check sent to them for more than $2,200 into their bank account, reports show.

They were then instructed to withdraw about $2,080 from their account and send two money orders via Western Union to two separate individuals in Ontario, Canada, police say.

The resident was later notified by their bank that the original check they were sent was fraudulent, police say, with no way of regaining the money sent to Canada.

According to a mid-November Consumer Alert from the Federal Trade Commission, legitimate opportunities will not have residents deposit a check and wire money on to someone else.

Amsterdam police remind residents that if they sense something is "too good to be true," it just might be and to be vigilant in regard to scams that are out there, especially during the holiday season.

If any resident suspects fraud, they can contact Amsterdam Police at 842-1100.